The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-16
BOUND TO SUCCEED.

l called him Pluck because it was so
characteristic of the boy, and because
/ could not recall the Bulgarian name
DR.. Hamlin gave me. A little hut i'll
Bulgaria made of mud and stones was
Pluck's home; and his father was 50
poor that he could hardly get food
enough for his large family. Their
clothes cost little, as they all wore
sheep-skins, made up with the wool
outside. Just imagine how funny a
flock of two-legged sheep would look.
Pluck was bright, ambitious boy.
with a great desire for study. And
when he heard of Robert College at
COnstantinople, he determined to go
there. So he told his father one day,
when they were away together tending
sheep, that he had decided to go to
college. The poor shepherd looked at
his son in amazement and said:
you can't 90 to college; it's all L
can do to feed you children; 1 can't
give you a plastic"
81 don't want piastre," Pluck re-
piled; 'but do want to go to col
lege."
Besides" the shepherd continued,
"vou can't 90 to college in sheep
skins"
But Pluck had made up his mind,
and he went-in sheep-skins and with
out a piastre. 1t was weary march
of one hundred and fifty miles to Con-
stantinople, but the boy was willing to
do any thing for an education. He
found kind friends all along the way,
who gave him food and shelter at
night. So Pluck trudged sturdilv on
day after day until he reached Con-
stantinople. As he was not one to let
the grass grow under his feet, he soon
found his way to the college, went into
the kitchen and inquired for the presi-
dent.
Pluck asked for work; but the presi
dent kindly told him there was none.
and that he must go away. "Oh, no, }"
Pluck said, 81 can't do that. [ didn't
come here to 90 away" When the
president insisted, Pluck's answer was
the same: l didn't come here to 60
away"
He had no idea of giving up. 1.-THE
King of France, with forty thousand
men went up hill, and SO came down
again. but it was no part of Pluck's
plan to go marching home again. And
three hours later the president saw
him in the yard patiently waiting.
Some of the students advised Pluck
to see Prof. Long. He knows all
about YOU Bulgarian fellows" The
professor, like the president, said
there was no work for him and he had
better go away. But Pluck bravely
stuck to his text: II didn't come here
to 60 away"
The boys courage and perseverance
pleased the professor SO much that he
urged the president to give Pluck a
trial So it was decided that he should
take care of the fires. That meant
carrying wood, and a great deal of it,
up three or four flights of stairs; TAX
ing away the ashes, and keeping all the
things neat and in order.
The president thought he would
soon get tired of such hard work. But
a boy who had walked hundred and
fifty miles for the sake of an education,
and was not ashamed to go to college
in sheep-skins and without a piastre,
would not easily be discouraged.
After few days. as Pluck showed no
signs of weakening" the president
went to him and said: my poor boy,
you can not stay here this winter. This
room is not comfortable, and have no
other to give YOU"
"Oh, I'm perfectly satisfied" Pluck
replied. "It's the best room l ever
had in my life. didn't come here TO
60 away"
Evidently there was no getting rid of
Pluck, and he was allowed to stay.
After he gained his point he settled
down to business, and asked some of
the students to help him with his les
sons in the evenings. They formed a
syndicate of six. That was good old
DIR. Hamlin's way, so none of the boys
found it burden to help Pluck one
evening in a week. 1t was a success
on both sides, the boys were patient
and kind, and Pluck was as painstak-
ing and persevering in his lessons as in
other things, SO that he made great
progress
After some weeks he asked to be ex-
ami ed to enter the preparatory class.
do YOU expect" asked the presi-
dent. Ito compete with those boys who
have many weeks the start of you?
And" he continued, ..you can't 90 into
class in sheep-skins, all the boys would
cry 'baa-'
Yes, sir, know" Pluck said; 'but
the boys have promised to help me out.
One will give me coat, another a
trousers, and so on"
Nothing could keep back boy like
that, who overcame all the obstacles in
his way.
After the examination, the president
said to Prof. Long:
''Can that boy get into that clasp
"Yes, was the reply; "but that class
can't get into that boy"
1t was no. all plain sailing yet Al